Abstract: In a devolatilization/solution concentration process which comprises pre-heating a feed stream, providing a small amount of additional heat to the pre-heated stream, evaporating a portion of the heated stream into a gaseous medium to cool the remaining, concentrated stream, and condensing the vapor in the gaseous medium to provide the pre-heating and produce a condensed volatile matter stream, particularly when the feed stream comprises a dilute aqueous solution containing a dissolved desiccant, the temperature of the pre-heated stream can be raised by evaporating a portion of an auxiliary heat transfer fluid into a gaseous medium and condensing its vapor in the gaseous medium to provide at least another part of the pre-heating. This will reduce the amount of the additional heat which has to be supplied, improve the performance, and better adapt the process to various end-use applications.

Abstract: In a devolatilization/solution concentration process, the feed stream is pre-heated and further heated to a temperature which is higher than the normal boiling point, evaporated into a circulating gaseous medium to obtain a concentrated stream, and the vapor in the circulating gaseous medium is condensed to provide the pre-heating and produce a condensed stream. Increasing the temperature span between the heated stream and the cooled, concentrated stream provides more energy for evaporation into the circulating gaseous medium and improves the performance. The process is thus better adapted for fresh-water production, salt-solution concentration, volatile-matter extraction, air conditioning, refrigeration, low-temperature heat energy upgrading, and electricity generation. Examples of the relevant applications are also provided.

Abstract: A method for the prevention of blocking in Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) films is provided, said method comprising the incorporation of at least a preselected High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) resin and a slip additive into the LLDPE film base resin at appropriate let-down ratios. The incorporation of the preselected HDPE resin and the slip additive into the film base resin can be accomplished in several ways. Regardless of the method of incorporation, after the extrusion and as the melt cools the preselected HDPE resin will give rise to the formation of larger crystals. Parts of these larger crystals will protrude from the film surfaces and trap the air, preventing it from being squeezed out from the gap in between two layers of film. Thus an antiblocking effect can be achieved without impairing the clarity, the gloss, the color, and the appearance of the film.